Working at Height Regulations

Working above ground level creates added dangers and slows down the work rate of the electrician. New Work at Height Regulations came into force on 6 April 2005. Every precaution should be taken to ensure that the working platform is appropriate for the purpose and in good condition. 

The term ladder is generally taken to include stepladders and trestles. The use of ladders for working above ground level is only acceptable for access and work of short duration (Work at Height Regulations 2005). 

We have already looked at this topic as it applies to electrical personnel. The new Work at Height Regulations 2005 tell us that a person is at height if that person could be injured by falling from it. The regulations require that ... 

Attempts have been made to address these concerns by the introduction of the Work at Height Regulations which apply to all operations carried out at height not just construction work so that they are also relevant to, for example, window cleaning, tree surgery, maintenance work at height and the changing of street lamps. 

Falls from a height are the most common cause of serious injury or death in the construction industry. The Work at Height Regulations require that suitable and sufficient steps be taken to prevent any person falling a distance that would be liable to cause personal injury and specifies that the maximum unprotected gap between the toe and guard rail of a scaffold is 470 mm. This implies the use of an intermediate guard rail or infill. It also specifies requirements for personal suspension equipment and means of arresting falls (such as safety nets). 

The Work at Height Regulations place a duty on employers to ensure that a ladder is used for work at height only if a risk assessment has demonstrated that the use of more suitable work equipmerrt is not justified because of the low risk and ... 

There have been several rumours that the Work at Height Regulations have banned the use of ladders. This is not true. Ladders may be used for access and it is legal to work from ladders. Ladders may be used when a risk assessment shows that the risk of injury is low and the task is of short duration or there are unalterable features of the work site and that it is not reasonably practicable to use potentially safer alternative means of access. Provided that the ladder is checked before each use,... 

Working at height is covered in detail in Chapter 8 however, there may be occasions when using a fixed staircase (not covered by the Work at Height Regulations) where people can fall and be seriously injured. 

This has been revoked by The Work at Height Regulations 2005. 

The Work at Height Regulations 2005 A brief guide, INDG401, 2005, HSE Books ISBN 0 7176 2976 7... 

It is not at all unusual for a construction worker to carry out their everyday job high up off the ground, for example, on scaffolding, on a ladder, or on the roof of a building. The Work at Height Regulations make sure that your... 

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